WLT and Madrid drive female leadership with a key day for tourism

26-11-25

The 3rd Edition of Legacy & Future, held on Monday 24 November at the Hotel Emperador in Madrid, became a decisive meeting for reflection, dialogue and the building of strategic alliances around female leadership in the tourism sector. From the first registrations in the morning, the emblematic Gran Vía venue brought together women executives, academics, entrepreneurs, institutional representatives and actors from the tourism ecosystem, who found in this event a unique space to showcase the talent and innovation that are shaping the future of tourism today.

The day was hosted by Emilio Gracia, a specialist in culture and people management, whose guidance created an atmosphere of professionalism and connection among attendees.

The opening session was led by Maribel Rodríguez, president of Women Leading Tourism (WLT), together with Pilar Lanchas, Commercial Director of the Hotel Emperador. They shared a vision of the purpose guiding this third edition: to drive a transformative movement that consolidates equity, diversity and female leadership as fundamental pillars of tourism development. They also underlined the role of WLT as an influential platform that articulates professional networks, training programmes and spaces for dialogue that strengthen women of different generations and profiles.

One of the central moments of the day was the address by Miguel Flecha, CEO of Delaight, who explained how artificial intelligence is redefining leadership and decision-making in tourism. His vision of technology as a tool for women’s empowerment aroused particular interest among the young professionals, academics and executives present at the event. This was followed by a round table moderated by Marta Rivas, bringing together Elvira Duta Dicu, Antonella Rodogno and Gema de Francisco. They discussed whether talent is “born or made” from the standpoint of their own careers, demonstrating that the combination of training, discipline and vocation is key to building solid leadership in the sector.

The generational handover was clearly visible in the conversation with VATEL students Andrea Teresa Paganessi, Irene Fernández and Lucía Candano, who offered a fresh perspective on the tourism of the future, the role of women and the career expectations that are shaping emerging trends in the global industry. After a short break, the programme resumed with the segment dedicated to the Community of Madrid, led by the Regional Director-General for Tourism and Hospitality, Laura Martínez Cerro, who highlighted the region’s progress and strategic lines in terms of sustainability, innovation and repositioning of the destination.

Antonio Santos del Valle, president of the Tourism and Society Think Tank (TSTT), and Maribel Rodríguez, president of Women Leading Tourism (WLT)

In this same context, awards were presented to recognise regional tourism leadership, highlighting the work of Isabel Galindo and Isabel Trujillo, women who drive projects linked to territorial identity, wine tourism and local development in the Community of Madrid. This space, hosted by Matilde Almandoz, allowed for a more in-depth look at the initiatives being honoured and at the challenges faced by women leading tourism projects in both rural and urban environments. The subsequent group photo symbolised the cohesion and collaborative spirit of the day.

One of the most strategic moments of this edition was the signing of a collaboration agreement between the Tourism and Society Think Tank (TSTT), represented by its president, Antonio Santos del Valle, and Women Leading Tourism (WLT), represented by its president, Maribel Rodríguez. This agreement marks an important milestone for both organisations, which are joining forces to develop joint initiatives on female leadership, sustainability, innovation and talent development in tourism. The alliance will make it possible to launch collaborative projects, international meetings, specialised training and positioning strategies that consolidate a shared vision: to promote a more inclusive and competitive tourism sector, aligned with the values of excellence and social responsibility.

The final part of the day focused on a review of WLT’s progress over the past five years, presented by María Isabel Rodríguez. Her reflections highlighted the organisation’s growth and its increasing influence in Spain and Latin America. The panel “From the Classroom to the Boardroom”, moderated by Ángeles Moreno, brought together leading professionals such as Mayte Gómez Condado, Noelia Herranz, Maite Rodríguez and Cristina Lanzarot, who examined the challenges and opportunities for more women to reach senior management positions. The closing remarks and subsequent cocktail reception wrapped up a day that made one thing clear: the sector is determined to build a tourism industry with more female talent, more strategic alliances and more future.

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